Well it's been a year since our "mid-Covid slimmed down impromptu mini-event" last August... and here we still are in the same situation! We are crossing our fingers and tentatively planning this event in the hopes that by mid August the guidelines will allow for larger gatherings outdoors... our hope is that we can keep the date open, should restrictions be lifted to some degree. ** As of July 1, 2021, these restrictions have been lifted! However, we do still recommend social distancing at the event and using your discretion in groups. Keep in mind that things may still change.**
You’re all familiar with the Southern Alberta Weekends previously hosted by SEARCH – So many events! New & exciting caches! All the familiar faces! Prizes! Draws! Sawblades! Food! T-Shirts! Coins! Bags of goodies! Remember that? Yeah – we aren’t doing that. 😊 Not all of it, anyway!
Due to the ongoing situation, we are going to try to tentatively plan this mini-event, because let's face it... we all need something to be excited about and look forward to. A little bit of positive and normalcy in these times of “unprecedented circumstances” and uncertainty.
We will be holding a very slimmed down version of our previous weekends. Only one small gathering on Saturday, with all new caches released since SAW XI specially bookmarked on this event page right before the event. There will be no contests, no swag for sale, no new coin, no multiple events, no voting, no booklet, no trophies and no fluff. Same great fun for all of you who come as groups wanting to have some fun and grab caches without the obligation to show up for multiple events, and even cooler for us – less work and more time to play with all of you! Sounds like a win-win for everyone! We understand that not everyone may be willing to risk travel during these times, but for those of you who choose to, we can’t wait to see your smiling faces, and are confident that you will follow the safety protocols to keep each other safe! Come for the day, or come for the weekend. It's totally up to you! Last year's mini-event was very similar, and was well received by the cachers who attended.
We do ask this of all of you… Please respect social distancing guidelines in place and give people space to cache in their groups. Please do bring hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes to wipe down caches before and after signing the logs, and please remember to wash your hands and sanitize after handling each cache. If we all keep safety at the forefront of our minds, there is no reason why we still can’t have some fun in the midst of these changing times. Since the situation is constantly changing, please be advised that further announcements regarding restriction updates will be posted on this page. We need to respect the guidelines as much as possible so that we can continue to enjoy these opportunities that are extended to us.
CARMH XII Lite starts on Saturday, Aug. 21nd @ 5:00 PM (and ends @ 6:00 PM), at Police Point Park. Due to the current Covid-19 regulations in place, any food or drinks consumed at this event will be your responsibility, so bring a picnic supper and hand sanitizer if you choose to eat there. Remember to bring your lawn chairs, especially because we need to provide ample space between groups. Parking coordinates are provided.
Finding – there will be no official start time or date to begin caching. Do so at your leisure, however, keep in mind that the bookmark of these caches will not be attached until right before the event. This isn’t a race and it isn’t about the numbers. It’s about enjoying what we all love to do! These caches will be available to be found at the date of publication for those who choose to, and there will not be a mass release of caches prior to the date.
Hiding – Please note that ANYONE is welcome to place a cache for this event! Make your hides as usual. Submitting them online early will assure you a better chance of getting that spot. When picking a name for your cache be sure to add SXII: in front of the caches name with no space after the colon. Example would be (SXII:mycache) Other caches released in the course of the year since SAWXI releases will also be included in this bookmark, regardless of whether they have SXII in the title. It is not necessary to hold caches for release on a particular date for this event, so do so as soon as possible to ensure that the reviewers are not overwhelmed prior to the event. Just keep in mind that if you wait too close to the event date to submit your caches, they may not be published in time. Depending on the schedule of the reviewer, they sometimes ask for 7-10 days prior to events to have caches submitted.
**Disclaimer: Due to the current and constantly evolving Covid-19 situation, these details are subject to change or cancellation, but date of event is firm. If for some reason, the event must be cancelled due to Alberta Health regulations, it will not be rescheduled during this calendar year. Please keep referring to this cache page for any further updates on the situation.
For those from out of town there are a few choices for campgrounds and hotels. Please check out our web page www.searchmh.com under events for an easy reference.
Note:
CARMH - Cache and Relax Medicine Hat is a single event.
SAW - Southern Alberta Weekend is a group of events.
SEARCH - SE Alberta Region Cache Hunters a group dedicated to Geocaching.
SEARCH (South East Alberta Region Cache Hunters) is a registered non-profit Geocaching Club in SE Alberta, ran by volunteers. Goal: To make Medicine Hat the top Alberta destination for Geocaching. To get family involvement, physical activity, friendship in our outdoor sport & CITO (Cache In Trash Out). Promote Geocaching within our community, by providing events, quality caches & opportunities to learn about Geocaching!